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Congressional Delegation Has Mixed Reactions to State of the Union

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by Paul Boger on

Mississippi's Congressional Delegation has mixed reactions to the President Obama's fifth State of the Union Address. MPB's Paul Boger reports some members of the delegation believe the Presidents proposals may not be good for the Magnolia state.

During last night's State of the Union address, the president expressed a willingness to take executive action to improve the economy. Mississippi Junior Senator Roger Wicker believes the President's plan has already been tried and failed.

"The fact of the matter is, we enter the sixth year of this administration, and growth is anemic." said Wicker. "The economy certainly need some help. I don't thing the President gave us much to work with."

However, Second District Representative Bennie Thompson -- the delegation's sole Democrat -- says the President would be well within his rights to act with out Congress.

"I don't think there is any question, every president has that authority." said Thompson. "If people don't like it, they have the opportunity to challenge it in a court of law."

Obama also touched on last year's partial repeal of the Voting Right's Act, saying he will work to ensure that every citizen had the power to vote.

First District Representative Alan Nunnelee says it was wrong for the federal government to continue to enforce legislation that only effected a handful of states.

"Mississippi's got a very good track record over the last couple of decades of reaching out and embracing minorities." said Nunnelee. "I would be opposed to anything that singles out one state or a handful of states."

Again Representative Thompson disagrees. He says it was the Voting Rights Act that enabled people of color to seek office.

"If we had left to the states, we would not have many people of color elected in this country." said Thompson. The Voting Rights Act has helped enfranchise people."

Mississippi has the largest population of people living below the poverty line, and it's unemployment rate remains above the national average.